Lifestyle modifications for Heart Disease
Following recommendations about diet, exercise and other habits can help alleviate heart failure symptoms, slow your disease’s progression and improve your everyday life. In fact, people with mild to moderate heart failure often can lead nearly normal lives as a result. Important lifestyle changes may include:
Quitting smoking: Each puff of nicotine from tobacco smoke temporarily increases heart rate and blood pressure, even as less oxygen-rich blood circulates through the body. Smoking also leads to clumping or stickiness in the blood vessels feeding the heart. People who quit smoking are more likely to have their heart failure symptoms improve.
Maintaining or losing weight: Sudden weight gain or loss can be a sign of developing heart failure, or that your heart failure is progressing. Weigh the person at the same time each morning, preferably before breakfast and after urinating. Notify to healthcare professional if the person gain three or more pounds in one day, five or more pounds in one week, or whatever amount you were told to report.
Tracking your daily fluid intake: If a person have heart failure, its common for his/her body to retain fluid. So the healthcare team may recommend limiting your liquid intake. Many people are prescribed diuretics (water pills) to help them get rid of extra water and sodium to reduce their heart’s workload. Talk with doctor about how much liquid to drink every day.
Avoiding or limiting alcohol: If a person drink’s alcohol, do so in moderation. This means no more than one to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women. Talk to doctor about whether it’s OK for you to drink alcohol.
Avoiding or limiting caffeine: Consume only a moderate amount of caffeine per day, no more than a cup or two of coffee.
Eating a heart-healthy diet: Eat an overall healthy dietary pattern that emphasizes a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, skinless poultry and fish, nuts and legumes, and non-tropical vegetable oils. Also, limit saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, red meat, sweets and sugar-sweetened beverages.
Being physically active: If a person is not physically active, talk to doctor about starting an exercise regimen. Schedule physical activity at the same time every day so it becomes a regular part of your lifestyle. If moderate exercise isn’t possible for a patient, consider participating in a structured rehabilitation program.
Managing stress: Take 15 to 20 minutes a day to sit quietly, breathe deeply and think of a peaceful scene. Or try a class in yoga or meditation. (Have a check-up to a doctor first before undertaking a strenuous yoga class.) When a person gets angry, count to 10 before responding to help reduce your stress.
Monitoring your blood pressure: Monitoring blood pressure at home, in addition to regular monitoring in a doctor’s office, can help control high blood pressure. Chart your blood pressure readings over time. This can reveal trends and help to eliminate false readings.
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Mary Wilson
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Current Research: Cardiology